The Blind Men Reach Out - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“Jesus sternly warned them: ‘See that no one knows about this!’ But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land” (Matthew 9:30–31).

Usually believers need to say more, not less, about the gospel of Jesus Christ. But here our Lord had definite reasons for commanding the people to whom He had ministered most directly not to publicize what had occurred.

He did not forbid them from speaking simply because He did not want their specific healing made known or because He did not want His miracles in general to be proclaimed. The miracles were evidence of His deity and legitimate mission. Christ commanded silence because it was not time to widely publicize His messiahship, lest the news stir up premature opposition to Him or encourage revolutionary Jews to rally around Him as a political deliverer.

Jesus also did not want to overemphasize His miracles. While they were a key element of His ministry, they were not the primary reason for His incarnation. Many already were not understanding the miracles rightly: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26).

Another reason why the Lord may not have wanted the men heralding His messiahship was because He wanted others, especially the Jews, to look to Scripture for the fulfillment of prophecy about the Messiah.

But in spite of Jesus’ command, the blind men still “went out and spread the news about Him.” This was disobedient of them and was the wrong response. However, it was the sort of sin that only grateful, eager new converts would commit. The men could not resist telling everyone of their miraculous deliverance.

Ask Yourself

How much of your everyday conversation is taken up with what the Lord has done for you?

Is it because you’re trying to be sensitive to the unsaved around you?

Or is it more because you just haven’t thought about it that much?

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TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: christianity; gty

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[trebb]

Good questions - I love to have conversations about the Bible and Jesus - no apologies.

He told His followers not to speak of it because He didn’t need/want “shills” - He wanted the public to spread the word because they were the effective way for the population to understand something wonderful was happening.

[Bob434]

I think the question is, “Why did he command them not to, when he knew that they would?” He knew they would immediately,go out and broadcast it everywhere. And really, it was all part of the plan to usher in his death eventually. His miracles riled the “religious” hypocrites to a frenzy eventually. It seems odd to me that he would tell them not to knowing they would do so Immediately. I guess I don’t see why he said it?

[metmom]

Maybe because it’s part of human nature to do what you’re told not to do.

But seriously, how do you hide a miracle like that anyways/ Even if they didn’t broadcast it verbally, word would have certainly gotten out and spread anyways.

I guess He had His reasons and it just doesn’t tell us.

[metmom]

Yes. You can’t hide a miracle like that, but spreading mow slowly through the grapevine would have caused to to go a little more slowly. Maybe He wanted more time for teaching His disciples before getting inundated by the needy, curious, and gawkers and thrill seekers.